The Tell-Tale signs That Your Radiators Need Bleeding

If you notice your home isn’t getting as warm as usual, or if you’ve had complaints from your tenants that the central heating isn’t working, there may be a very simple explanation. Some radiators need bleeding every so often to release the air trapped in the system. When there is air in the system, this takes the place of the hot water. This means that your radiators won’t be as warm as they should be and you might notice cold spots.

Thankfully, there is often a simple solution to the problem. But first, you need to know how to recognise the tell-tale signs that your radiators need bleeding.

Your radiator has cold spots

The most common sign that there is air in your central heating system is cold spots on your radiator. Cold spots on your radiator can be a sign that it’s time to bleed your radiators which will allow the air to be released. Patchy warmth in your radiators might not immediately become an issue, but over time, you may notice that your heating is less efficient. This can also lead you to turn your thermostat higher than it needs to be.

The whole radiator is cold

If the whole radiator is cold, this is less likely to be a simple fix. While it does suggest that there is a problem with your central heating system, bleeding your radiators alone is unlikely to fix it. Instead, you should call a registered central heating engineer to help resolve this problem. If you’re concerned about the cost of call-outs quickly adding up, you can opt of central heating cover to help spread the cost. There are even landlord boiler cover with no excess options available to keep costs for landlords down while keeping tenants happy. Remember that faulty central heating can quickly become disastrous in winter as it can lead to frozen and burst pipes.

There are damp spots around your home

One sign that your central heating isn’t working as it should is the presence of damp spots around your home. This can be a sign that your radiators aren’t working as efficiently as they could as the house is getting too cold. Damp occurs when moisture from the air settles on cold surfaces. Over time, this can spread into large unsightly mould patches and cause damage to paintwork and woodwork.

Your central heating is suddenly noisy

Does the sound of your central heating turning on at night wake you up? Or do you have to turn the TV up to drown out the gurgling sounds coming from your radiators? If your radiators are making all sorts of noises, bleeding them can help to resolve this problem. If the problem persists after you’ve finished bleeding your radiators, then it’s time to bring in the experts.

How to bleed a radiator

Bleeding a radiator really isn’t hard, it’s just a little messy and time-consuming. There are plenty of YouTube videos and blog posts available to walk you through the steps, no matter what heating system you have. Just remember, you should never attempt to open or service your own boiler. While not illegal, it’s incredibly dangerous to carry out DIY work on your boiler. Always turn to a gas safe registered engineer.